50,000 Volunteers to Clean California's Coast This Saturday

This Saturday, tens of thousands of Californians will roll up their sleeves for the state's largest volunteer event of the year.

California's 42nd annual Coastal Cleanup Day happens September 19 from 9 a.m. to noon. More than 50,000 volunteers are expected to show up at over 700 cleanup sites spanning all 58 counties, from beaches to rivers to lakes.

The numbers from last year tell the story. Nearly 40,000 volunteers removed more than 358,000 pounds of trash from California's waterways. That's roughly the weight of 45 cars worth of garbage that never made it to the ocean.

State parks and the Division of Boating and Waterways are joining forces with the California Coastal Commission to make this year even bigger. More than 60 state parks will host cleanup sites, and boaters can join from kayaks, canoes, and dinghies.

"California's coast and waterways belong to all of us, and Coastal Cleanup Day is a great way to give them a little love," said Ramona Fernandez, Deputy Director of Boating and Waterways. "It's also a fun way to get outside, connect with your community and make a difference, one piece of trash at a time."

The Ripple Effect

The cleanup tackles a problem that stretches far beyond the shoreline. About 75% of the debris collected is plastic, which harms wildlife, releases toxins into the environment, and enters the food chain.

Trash doesn't need to start at the beach to end up there. Litter from inland areas travels through creeks, rivers, and storm drains before reaching the ocean. That means volunteers cleaning up a lake or river miles from the coast are protecting marine life too.

Last year's boating facilities alone saw 2,000 volunteers collect more than 14,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from the water.

Volunteers should bring reusable gloves, buckets, and refillable water bottles. Comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes are a must. Check with your local cleanup site for registration details and what supplies they'll provide.

Every piece of litter removed is one less threat to California's wildlife and waters.